BATH — There is a good-food, good-jobs theme at this year's Redneck Fishing Tournament in the Illinois River community of Bath.

Economic development and elected officials from across central Illinois are expected to join the two-day contest, Aug. 1-2, in the community of 300, about 60 miles northwest of Springfield. The contest is simple. Catch as many Asian carp as fast as possible from the Illinois River.

The ninth annual tournament also comes with one commercial processing plant in operation on the Mississippi River at Grafton and another in the works on the Illinois at Peoria.

“They really need to get these processing plants going,” tournament founder-director Betty DeFord said. “There's no other way we're going to get rid of them (carp).”

The plant at Grafton, about 40 miles north of St. Louis, started processing Asian carp this spring for fish meal and omega-3 oil. Peoria County economic development officials announced plans early this month for a multimillion-dollar processing plant on the Illinois River at Peoria.

Officials told the Peoria Journal Star the project is in the formative stages, but would create 30 to 40 jobs by selling to an international market for Asian carp.

The tournament in Bath is meant to be fun. The Asian carp is not. The invasive species — known for jumping into boats and occasionally injuring boaters — crowds out native marine life and is considered a serious threat to the commercial fishing industry.

“I was on the river with grandkids,” DeFord said. “At first it was fun, and then it wasn't fun anymore. They were like popcorn flying into the boat.”

Louisiana chef and food-industry consultant Phillipe Parola, who specializes in domestic markets for invasive species, will demonstrate Asian carp cooking techniques. He will be joined by Clint Carter of Carter Fish Market in Springfield.

Admission is $3 per day or $5 for a two-day ticket. DeFord said her share of proceeds will go to a program for homeless veterans at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Danville.